Dodgers extend winning steak to nine games with 3-2 victory to sweep the Marlins – Orange County Register

Los Angeles Dodgers’ Rich Hill delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Sunday, July 16, 2017, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) ORG XMIT: FLMP101

Los Angeles Dodgers’ Justin Turner, center, celebrates with teammates after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Sunday, July 16, 2017, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) ORG XMIT: FLMP102

Miami Marlins left fielder Marcell Ozuna (13) climbs the fence as a fan attempts to catch a ball hit by Los Angeles Dodgers’ Justin Turner for a home run, during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, July 16, 2017, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) ORG XMIT: FLMP103

Miami Marlins’ Chris O’Grady delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Sunday, July 16, 2017, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) ORG XMIT: FLMP104

MIAMI — The Dodgers won their ninth straight game, and swept their 11th series of the 2017 season, on Sunday.

The Miami Marlins made it interesting at the end.

Kenley Jansen committed a balk and allowed an RBI single in a turbulent eighth inning. The Dodgers’ closer then pitched a perfect ninth inning to cap the Dodgers’ 3-2 victory.

Jansen needed a diving stop by third baseman Justin Turner to corral a scorching ground ball off J.T. Riddle’s bat for the final out. It was his ninth save of four outs or more. Jansen has converted all 23 of his save opportunities this season.

The Dodgers improved the majors’ best record to 64-29. They lead the second-place Arizona Diamondbacks by 10 ½ games in the National League West standings, their largest margin of the season.

The last time he pitched in Miami before Sunday, Rich Hill (6-4) threw seven perfect innings. He was removed due to a pitch-count restriction, with much ballyhoo, prior to the eighth inning of that game last Sept. 10. Dave Roberts faced no such dilemma this time.

Besides the fact that Hill’s fingers have been blister-free since May, he allowed a double to Marcell Ozuna to begin the second inning. Hill got out of that jam, and mostly succeeded in avoiding stressful situations Sunday. The left-hander allowed just one run in five innings. He didn’t walk a batter and struck out nine, two shy of his season high.

Miami got its only run against Hill in the fifth inning on a fluky infield single by a future Hall of Famer.

With one out, former Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis lined a double to left…